Chapter 5: Wildfire

Annabel glanced over at Puck. He quickly looked away from her making her smirk. They had been in rehearsal for almost forty five minutes now. It had been the same thing with Puck. He'd look at her and catch her looking and she'd look away and vice versa. It was like a game between them and they'd only lose if they were caught.

Once rehearsals were done Puck approached Annabel. She was grabbing her bag and getting ready to go. She smiled as she turned to face Puck.

"Hey Annie," Puck said with a smile.

"Can I help you Puckerman?" She asked playfully.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to do something tonight," Puck said with a shrug.

"Can't, I've got plans," Annabel replied.

"What's more important than me?" Puck asked.

"Family, Dave has a game and I told him I'd be there for him," Annabel said with a shrug. She slipped her bag over her shoulder. "Another time Noah," she said.

"I'll hold you to that," Puck said.

"I hope so," Annabel said with a wink. She turned and left.

Puck stood there watching her go. He didn't notice Finn walk up to him at first.

"I take it things went well?" Finn asked.

"Oh yeah, she's hooked," Puck replied cockily.

"So that's why she blew you off?" Finn asked teasingly.

"She's got her brother's football game to go to," Puck said shrugging.

"What is her little brother or something?" Finn asked as they walked down the hallway to the locker room. They headed to their lockers to get ready for practice.

"Nah, it's Karofsky," Puck said without thinking. Finn stopped what he was doing and looked at a Puck shocked.

"What? She's a Karofsky?" Finn asked.

"Uh yeah, she's nothing like him though," Puck said with a shrug.

"You glee boys better be out here in five minutes or you'll be running laps!" Coach Beiste yelled.

Puck and Finn quickly got ready and headed out to the field. Puck was thinking about Annabel. He couldn't help it and it affected his game. He got tackled more than he should've been.

After practice Finn nudged Puck's arm, giving him a smirk. "Something on your mind?"

"Just couldn't get her outta my head, man," Puck said with a sigh.

"Looks like someone's in love," Finn laughed. "And to think she's a Karofsky."

"I told you man, she ain't like him." Puck said shaking his head. Neither of them noticed the lanky Asian who looked extremely shocked.

-Cowboy Casanova-

Mike hurried away from the two football players, he had to find Tina. When he finally found her, he pulled her away from who she was talking to.

"Mike, what the H." She said stunned.

"Puck's dating a Karofsky." Mike said in a whisper.

"No way...Annabel is a Karofsky?" She asked her eyes abnormally wide.

"Yeah I overhead Puck and Finn talking about it." Mike said nodding, neither could believe what they heard.

"I have to text Mercedes." Tina whipped out her phone and typed as fast as she could.

-Cowboy Casanova-

By the next morning everyone in glee club knew about Annabel being part of the Karofsky family. Annabel was absent from morning rehearsals. It was around lunch time when Annabel finally came to school.

"I can't believe she didn't tell anybody," Kurt said shaking his head.

"We can't just confront her out of no where," Blaine said, trying to reason with his boyfriend.

"But she's a Karofsky...you know what he did to me." Kurt said snidely.

"I know Kurt," Blaine said.

The two were talking about the hottest gossip that was circulating glee club. Word about Annabel being a Karofsky had spread like wildfire, also everyone now knew that she and Puck were kind of dating.

"She's keeping it a secret for a reason," Kurt said after a few moments silence.

"Kurt, its probably for a good reason she hasn't told anyone," Blaine reasoned.

"And what could that be?" Kurt asked. "Do you think she knows what he did, and is just trying to get in my good graces to put me down?"

"I really don't think Annabel is like that." Blaine said shaking his head. Kurt was beginning to sound paranoid. "I think you're over reacting." Kurt's eyes widened at that, and Blaine realized a second too late what he said.

"Hmph." Kurt folded his arms across his chest defiantly. "I'll show you overreacting." And he turned away from Blaine, blatantly ignoring the brunette.

"Oh come on Kurt, you know I didn't mean it?" Blaine said softly touching Kurt's shoulder only for him to pull away.

"Mean what? Am I intruding on a lovers quarrel?"

Both boys heads snapped over to her, Blaine looked totally surprised but the venom in Kurt's eyes made Annabel draw back as if she were burned.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asked meekly.

"No it's just..."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Kurt asked harshly.

"About what?" She was feeling so lost at that moment. She turned to Blaine. "What?"

"He means why didn't you tell anyone about being a Karofsky." Blaine explained.

"I...didn't know it was a big deal." She replied even more confused. "Is it a big deal?"

"You mean you really don't know?" The change of tone in Kurt's voice made Annabel relax slightly.

"Know what?" She asked starting to sound a little desperate. Kurt suddenly felt really uncomfortable about saying anything to her. "Kurt please tell me, I don't like anyone being mad at me."

"He threatened me." Kurt said softly, avoiding her eyes. "You're brother Dave, he threatened me because I'm gay."

"No..." She shook her head, her brow furrowed. "No, he wouldn't do that. He's..."

"I should be more specific," Kurt began again. "Because I'm so openly gay...because I'm so proud of who I am."

"But I still don't understand." She said confused. "He's never said anything to me." She looked up at Kurt, her look was sad. "I'm really sorry, I didn't know."

"He also stole my first kiss." Kurt said strongly, refusing to let this still hurt him. "That was around the time I first met Blaine."

"Well...at least some good came from that." Annabel said smiling softly at Kurt, he rolled his eyes at her but gave a small smile in return. "So you're not mad at me any more...are you?"

"No," Kurt sighed. "I don't even think I was really all that mad to begin with." He then turned to Blaine. "I'm sorry I was overreacting."

"I really shouldn't have even said that." Blaine said with a smile.

"Aw you two are just the cutest!" Annabel squealed quietly. Kurt rolled his eyes again as he leaned over and pecked Blaine on the lips.

-Cowboy Casanova-

Annabel bit her lip as she knocked on Dave's bedroom door. Dave had been nothing but nice to her ever since she had arrived with the Karofsky's. He was everything she would have wanted in a brother.

The door opened and Dave looked down at her. "Can I help you?" He asked.

"Kurt Hummel," Annabel said simply.

"I was wondering when that would come up," Dave sighed. He stepped aside for Annabel. She walked into his room and turned to face him waiting for him to talk.

"Well," she prompted him.

"Last year I was in denial, you know that," Dave said.

"But to threaten someone as sweet and innocent as Kurt!" Annabel exclaimed.

"Not my best idea, but he was so proud of who he was it just...it angered me that he could be so happy with who he was and I was scared," Dave said looking down at his hands.

"Dave, you don't have to be scared," Annabel said softly her anger dissolving quickly. She never could stay mad at her brother. "I can be there when you tell mom and dad," she added.

"I can't Annabel," Dave said shaking his head.

"When you're ready I'm here," Annabel said. She had had this argument with Dave before, but she'd never push him to do something he wasn't ready for. "I'll be here for you Dave. We may not be blood related but we are family," she said.

"I know, thanks Annabel," Dave said smiling at his sister. Annabel smiled and stepped closer to him. He grinned and pulled her into a hug. "Now about you dating Puckerman," he said once she took a step back.

"Not you too," Annabel sighed.

"I went to school with him for three years, just be careful," Dave warned her.

"I can take care of myself," Annabel assured him.

So there ya go everyone knows about Annabel being a Karofsky. Kurt and Annabel strengthened their friendship as well. Well there will be more to come, so keep your eyes open.

Liv